MECHANICAL LOCKING SYSTEM FOR FLOOR PANELS

Description

Technical field

[0001] The invention generally relates to the field of mechanical locking systems for floor panels and building panels especially floor panels with mechanical locking systems, which may be locked by a vertical displacement.

Field of application of the invention

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in floating floors, which are formed of floor panels which are joined mechanically with a locking system integrated with the floor panel, i.e. mounted at the factory, that are made up of one or more upper layers of veneer, decorative laminate, powder based surfaces or decorative plastic material, an intermediate core of wood fibre based material or plastic material and preferably a lower balancing layer on the rear side of the core. The following description of known technique, problems of known systems and objects and features of the invention will therefore, as a non restrictive example, be aimed at this field of application and in particular at paper based or paper free laminate flooring formed as rectangular floor panels with long and shorts sides adapted to be mechanically joined on both long and short sides. The long and short sides are mainly used to simplify the description of the invention. The panels may be squared and may have more than four sides, which are not parallel or perpendicular to each other.

[0003] It should be emphasized that embodiments of the invention may be applied to any floor panel preferably at the short edges and it may be combined with all types of known locking system on the long edges, where the floor panels are adapted to be joined using a mechanical locking system connecting the long edges in a vertical and/or horizontal direction. Embodiments of the invention may also be used for joining building panels, which preferably comprise a board material, such as wall panels, ceilings, and furniture components and similar.

Background of the invention

[0004] Floating floor panels such as laminate floor panels are generally joined mechanically by means of so called mechanical locking systems. These systems comprise locking means, which lock the panels horizontally and vertically on all edges.

[0005] The main advantages of floating floors with mechanical locking systems are that they are easy to install. Several versions of locking systems are use on the market and there is a continuous demand for improvements related to production costs and function.

Definition of some terms

[0006] In the following text, the visible surface of the installed floor panel is called "front side", while the opposite side of the floor panel, facing the sub floor, is called "rear side". The edge between the front and rear side is called "joint edge". By "horizontal plane (HP) or principal plane" is meant a plane, which extends parallel to the outer part of the surface layer. Immediately juxtaposed upper parts of two adjacent joint edges of two joined floor panels together define a "vertical plane (VP)" perpendicular to the horizontal plane. By "horizontally" is meant parallel to the horizontal plane and by "vertically" parallel to the vertical plane. By "up or upwardly" is meant towards the front side and by "down or downwardly" is meant towards the rear side. By "inwardly" is meant essentially horizontally towards the inner part of the panel and by "outwardly is meant essentially horizontally and away from the inner part of the panel. By "strip panel" is meant a panel comprising a strip and a locking element. By "fold panel" is meant a panel, with a locking groove configured to cooperate with a locking element for horizontal locking that is adapted to be angled and displaced vertically during locking.

Known technique and problems thereof

[0007] The description of the known art below is in applicable parts also used in embodiments of the invention.

[0008] For mechanical joining of long sides as well as short sides in the vertical and horizontal direction several methods and locking systems may be used. One of the most used methods is the angle-snap method and one of the most used locking systems is a system made in one piece with the core. The long sides are installed by angling. The panel is then displaced in locked position along the long side. The short sides are locked by horizontal snapping.

[0009] An alternative method is the so-called angling-angling method whereby long and short sides are locked with angling.

[0010] Recently a new and simpler method has been developed where all floor panels may be joined with just an angling of the long edges. This installation method generally referred to as "fold down" installation. An example of such a known "fold down" installation method is shown in figure 18 and 19 of WO 03/016654. A problem with this method is that a flexible snap tab, arranged at an edge of a first panel, must be pressed inwardly by a sharp upper edge of an adjacent edge of a second panel..

[0011] WO 2006/043893 (Välinge Innovation AB) figure 13d describes a fold down locking system comprising a flexible tongue on the fold panel that locks against a rigid tongue formed in the edge of the adjacent strip panel. The flexible tongue has an inclined sliding surface at its outer and lower part that during folding slides against the rigid tongue and presses the flexible tongue inwardly into a sliding groove. The size of the sliding surface is limited by the thickness of the flexible tongue. This thickness is not possible to increase since such an increased thickens will also increase the thickness of the displacement groove and this will have a negative impact of the strength of the locking system.

[0012] US 2010/043333 A1 discloses a panel with a working surface and four edges of which oppositely disposed pairs of edges have corresponding holding profiles so that similar panels are connectable. Holding profiles of a first pair of edges are connectable by angular movement into interlocking relationship. Holding profiles of a second pair of edges are hook elements, which are connectable to similar adjacent panels by joining movement. There is provided at a hook element a separate vertical locking element projecting into a path of joining movement of the hook elements. During joining, the vertical locking element is movable out of the path of joining movement and when hooked, the hook elements are movable toward the joining movement by spring action. When dismantling, connected panels are unlockable from hooked and vertically locked condition by pivoting about an axis near the hooked edges and toward an unlocking position. The working surfaces, when unlocked, are less than 180° relative to each other.

Summary of the invention

[0013] An objective is to provide an improved mechanical locking system, which may by locked by vertical folding, comprising a flexible tongue with an outer flexible snap tab connected to an edge of a fold pane.

[0014] More specifically the object is to provide a vertical snap locking system, which creates less snapping resistance during locking.

[0015] The above objects are achieved wholly or partly by a mechanical locking systems and floor panels, as described herein. Further embodiments of the invention are evident from the claims, description and drawings.

[0016] The invention is defined by the appended claims and comprises a set of floor panels that are mechanically connectable to each other at a first and a second edge of a first and a second floor panel respectively, wherein upper edges of said first and second edge in a connected state define a vertical plane. The first edge is provided with a protruding tongue formed in one piece with the core of the first floor panel. Said protruding tongue extends beyond the vertical plane.

[0017] The second edge is provided with a separate flexible tongue comprising an inner part, which is connected to a holding groove at the second edge, and an outer flexible snap tab that extends upwardly and in the connected state into a cavity under the protruding tongue for locking the first and the second floor panel to each other in a vertical direction. An upper contact point between the protruding tongue and an upper part of the second floor panel that overlaps the protruding tongue and a lower contact point between the protruding tongue and the flexible snap tab are configured to provide vertical locking. The first edge comprises a strip with a locking element. The second edge comprises a locking groove, which is open towards a rear side of the second floor panel that faces a subfloor. A locking surface of the locking element is configured to cooperate, in the connected state, with a locking surface of the locking groove for locking the first and the second floor panel to each other in a horizontal direction, which is at right angles to the first and second edge. The first and the second floor panel are mechanically connectable by a vertical displacement towards each other, wherein the flexible snap tab and the protruding tongue are configured to cooperate during said displacement such that at least a part of the flexible snap tab is, in a first stage, resiliently displaced inwardly, towards the holding groove of the second edge, by the protruding tongue, and that the flexible snap tab is, in a second stage, displaced towards the first edge to obtain the connected state. A space is provided between the upper part of the strip and the second edge.

[0018] The invention provides the advantages that the flexible snap tab may be displaced by an inclined guiding surface located on a rather soft tongue made of the same material as the core and such displacement may be made without contact with the hard upper panel surface.

[0019] The protruding tongue is preferably arranged above the strip. The protruding tongue may be arranged at the vertical plane and extend from the vertical plane.

[0020] The separate flexible tongue with the snap tab requires a smaller holding groove as compared to the displacement groove shown in WO 2006/043893 (Välinge Innovation AB) figure 13d. The smaller holding groove makes the connection stronger since the distance between the holding groove and the locking groove may be increased.

[0021] The protruding tongue preferably comprises an inclined or rounded guiding surface at its upper and outer part.

[0022] The protruding tongue and the snap tab is preferably configured such that the initial contact, during said vertical displacement, between the protruding tongue and the snap tab is at an upper part of the snap tab. The initial contact at the upper part decreases the force needed for the displacement of the snap tab, or a part of the snap tab. The decreased force makes it easier to connect the floor panels.

[0023] The protruding tongue preferably comprises a locking surface at its lower part that is inclined and in locked position in contact wit the flexible snap tab.

[0024] The locking surface of the protruding tongue is preferably arranged above the strip.

[0025] The flexible tongue may be glued into the holding groove.

[0026] The holding groove may comprise an upper wall and a lower wall and an inner wall extending between the upper and the lower wall. A glue is preferably provided at the upper, the lower and the inner wall. The flexible tongue may be glued to the upper, the lower and the inner wall.

[0027] The locking surface of the locking element and/or the locking surface of the locking groove preferably extend in an essentially vertical direction or at angle in a range of about 0 to about 45 degrees to the vertical plane.

Brief description of the drawings

[0028] The present invention will by way of example be described in more detail with reference to the appended schematic drawings.

Figs 1-5

illustrate known systems.

Figs 6a-c

illustrate a first example.

Fig 7a

illustrates a further example.

Fig 7b

illustrates an embodiment of the invention.

Figs 8a-b

illustrate a further example.

Detailed description

[0029] To facilitate understanding, several locking systems in the figures are shown schematically. It should be emphasized that improved or different functions may be achieved using combinations of the preferred embodiments.

[0030] A known "fold down" installation method is described in figures 1-4. Locking of short edges 1b, 1c takes place with a scissors like movement where a flexible tongue 30 is displaced inwardly gradually from one edge to the other edge when a long side of a panel 1c in one row is connected by angling to an adjacent panel 1a in a previously installed row. A flexible snap tab 33, which in most cases is made of a plastic section, is during folding bended horizontally along the joint. A part of the snap tab is during folding pressed inwardly, as shown in figure 1, and other parts are in contact with the adjacent edge, figure 2, or in an completely unlocked position, as shown in figure 4.

[0031] The horizontal locking takes place when a locking element 8 located on a strip 6 on a first panel 1b, hereafter referred to as strip panel, cooperates with an adjacent second panel 1c, hereafter referred to as fold panel, such that the locking element 8 is inserted into a locking groove 14.

[0032] Figures 5a and 5b show that the flexible tongue 30 may be connected to an edge of the fold panel 1c or the strip panel strip panel 1b.

[0033] From a production perspective it is an advantage if the flexible tongue 30 is connected to a fold panel 1c because it is easy to insert such a flexible tongue into a holding groove 32. There is no protruding strip 6 and the insertion of the flexible tonged may be made with an inserting equipment comprising rather simple guiding devices that guide the tongue into the holding groove 32. A problem with such a flexible tongue 30, as shown in figure 5a, is that the locking system is difficult to lock since the snap tab must be pressed inwardly by a sharp upper edge.

[0034] Figures 6a-6c show a strip panel 1b comprising a strip 6 and a locking element 8 which cooperates with a locking groove 14 in a fold panel 1c for horizontal locking of two adjacent edges of the fold panel 1c and the strip panel 1b is provided. The strip panel comprises a protruding tongue 10 with an upper inclined or rounded guiding surface 11 and a lower locking surface 12. The fold panel 1c comprises a flexible tongue 30 in a holding groove 32, which is open towards the vertical plane VP. The flexible tongue 30 has an inner part 34 connected into the holding groove 32 and a flexible snap tab 33 with a sliding surface 35 extending outwardly and upwardly. The sliding surface 35, that preferably is located at an upper part of the flexible snap tab, cooperates with the guiding surface 11 during a vertical displacement of the fold panel 6c and causes a pressure force that bends the flexible snap tab 33 inwardly towards the holding groove 32 as shown in figures 6a- 6b. The snap tab 33 snaps back toward its initial position and into the cavity 31 when the edges 1b, 1c are aligned horizontally and the lower locking surface 12 on the lower part of the protruding tongue 10 locks against the upper part of the snap tab 33 as shown in figure 6c. The flexible snap tab 33 and the protruding tongue 10 lock the edges vertically parallel to the vertical plane VP. The locking element 8 and the locking groove 14 lock the edges in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical plane VP. The strip 6 and the protruding tongue 10 form a cavity 31 that in connected state accommodates an outer part of the flexible snap tab 33. The protruding tongue is preferably arranged above the strip, at the vertical plane and extends from the vertical plane. The locking surface of the protruding tongue is preferably arranged above the strip.

[0035] The inclined guiding surface 11 facilitates an easy locking since the flexible snap may not be in contact during locking with the upper sharp edge of the panel surface. The guiding surface may be used to facilitate an easy locking even in the case that a contact may exist during folding between the upper edge and the flexible snap tab 11.

[0036] The lower locking surface 12 may be inclined and the locking may be made with a pre tension such that the snap tab 11 in locked position is pressed against a lower part of the protruding tongue 10.

[0037] Figure 7a shows in a further example that there may be a space S1 between the upper part of the tongue 10 and the adjacent panel edge. The vertical locking is accomplished with an upper contact point A between the protruding tongue 10 and the flexible snap tab 33, and a lower contact point B between the strip 6 and a lower edge of the fold panel 1c. The snap tab may be flexible or rigid depending on the design and material composition. Polymer materials are preferred and the flexible tongue may comprise several different materials in for example the inner part or in the snap tab. The flexible tongue 30 may comprise a knee joint 36 with increased flexibility that facilitates bending and/or displacement of the snap tab. The locking groove 14 and the holding groove 32 are preferably horizontally displaced, in order to obtain a strong locking system, and preferably with a distance D1 that is at least about 30% of the floor thickness T. The upper part of the locking groove 14 and the inner part of the holding groove 32 are preferably also displaced vertically with a distance D2.

[0038] Figure 7b shows an embodiment of the invention wherein there is a space S2 between the upper part of the strip 6 and the lower edge of the adjacent fold panel 1c. The vertical locking is in this embodiment accomplished with a lower contact point B between the protruding tongue 10 and the flexible snap tab 33, and an upper contact point A between the protruding tongue 10 and an upper part of the fold panel 1c that overlaps the protruding tongue.

[0039] Figure 8a shows an example where the upper edges of the panels are in contact with each other and the guiding surface 11 extends downwardly from the panel surface. The knee joint 36 comprises a flexible material 37 that is softer than the inner part 34 and the snap tab 33. The flexible tongue 30 comprises an inner part 34 that comprises a lower part 34a located under the flexible snap tab 33.

[0040] Figure 8b shows an example where the holding groove 32 comprises glue 38 and the flexible tongue 30 is glued into the holding groove. This gives a stronger locking system and cracks C extending primarily between the holding groove 32 and the locking groove 14 may be avoided. The lowest part of the flexible tongue 30 may be located essentially on the same horizontal plane as the lower and outer part 39 of the fold panel 1c. The holding groove may comprise an upper wall and a lower wall and an inner wall extending between the upper and the lower wall. The glue is preferably provided at the upper, the lower and the inner wall. The flexible tongue is preferably glued to the upper, the lower and the inner wall.

Claims

1. A set of floor panels which are mechanically connectable to each other at a first and a second edge of a first and a second floor panel (1b, 1c) respectively, wherein upper edges of said first and second edge in a connected state define a vertical plane (VP),
the first edge is provided with a protruding tongue (10) formed in one piece with the core of the first floor panel, said protruding tongue (10) extends beyond the vertical plane (VP),
the second edge is provided with a separate flexible tongue (30)
the first edge comprises a strip (6) with a locking element (8),
the second edge comprises a locking groove (14), which is open towards a rear side of the second floor panel that faces a subfloor, and
a locking surface of the locking element is configured to cooperate, in the connected state, with a locking surface of the locking groove for locking the first and the second floor panel to each other in a horizontal direction, which is at right angles to the first and second edge
characterized in that
the flexible tongue comprises an inner part (34), which is connected to a holding groove (32) at the second edge, and an outer flexible snap tab (33) that extends upwardly and in the connected state into a cavity (31) under the protruding tongue for locking the first and the second floor panel to each other in a vertical direction,
wherein an upper contact point (A) between the protruding tongue (10) and an upper part of the second floor panel that overlaps the protruding tongue and a lower contact point (B) between the protruding tongue (10) and the flexible snap tab (33) are configured to provide vertical locking, wherein the first and the second floor panel are mechanically connectable by a vertical displacement towards each other, wherein the flexible snap tab (33) and the protruding tongue (10) are configured to cooperate during said displacement such that at least a part of the flexible snap tab (33) is, in a first stage, resiliently displaced inwardly towards the holding groove (32) of the second edge by the protruding tongue (10), and that the flexible snap tab (33) is, in a second stage, displaced towards the first edge, to obtain the connected state, and
wherein a space (S2) is provided between the upper part of the strip (6) and the lower edge of the second edge, so that there is no vertical locking between the upper part of the strip and the lower edge of the second edge.

2. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer part of the protruding tongue (10) comprises an inclined or rounded guiding surface (11) at its upper and outer part.

3. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the protruding tongue (10) is arranged above the strip (6).

4. The set of floor panels as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protruding tongue (10) is arranged at the vertical plane and extends from the vertical plane.

5. The set of floor panels as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protruding tongue (10) comprises at its lower part a locking surface (12) which in the connected state is configured to cooperate with the flexible snap tab (33).

6. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking surface (12) of the lower part of the protruding tongue is inclined.

7. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the locking surface (12) of the lower part of the protruding tongue (10) is arranged above the strip (6).

8. The set of floor panels as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protruding tongue (10) and the snap tab (33) is configured such that the initial contact, during said vertical displacement, between the protruding tongue and the snap tab is at an upper part of the snap tab.

9. The set of floor panels as claimed in any one of the claims, wherein the flexible tongue (30) is glued into the holding groove (32).

10. The set of floor panels as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding groove (32) comprise an upper wall and a lower wall and an inner wall extending between the upper and the lower wall.

11. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 10, wherein a glue is provided at the upper, the lower and the inner wall.

12. The set of floor panels as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the flexible tongue is glued to the upper, the lower and the inner wall.

Ansprüche

1. Satz von Bodenplatten, die an einer ersten und einer zweiten Kante einer ersten bzw. einer zweiten Bodenplatte (1b, 1c) mechanisch miteinander verbunden werden können, wobei die oberen Kanten der ersten und der zweiten Kante in einem verbundenen Zustand eine vertikale Ebene (VP) bilden,
die erste Kante mit einer vorstehenden Feder (10) versehen ist, die aus einem Stück mit dem Kern der ersten Bodenplatte ausgebildet ist, und sich die vorstehende Feder (10) über die vertikale Ebene (VP) hinaus erstreckt,
die zweite Kante mit einer separaten flexiblen Feder (30) versehen ist
die erste Kante eine Leiste (6) mit einem Verriegelungs-Element (8) umfasst,
die zweite Kante eine Verriegelungs-Nut (14) umfasst, die zu einer Rückseite der zweiten Bodenplatte hin offen ist, die einem Unterboden zugewandt ist, und
eine Verriegelungs-Fläche des Verriegelungs-Elementes so eingerichtet ist, dass sie in dem verbundenen Zustand mit einer Verriegelungs-Fläche der Verriegelungs-Nut zusammenwirkt, um die erste und die zweite Bodenplatte miteinander in einer horizontalen Richtung zu verriegeln, die rechtwinklig zu der ersten und der zweiten Kante ist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die flexible Feder einen inneren Teil (34), der mit einer Halte-Nut (32) an der zweiten Kante verbunden ist, sowie eine äußere flexible Einrast-Zunge (33) umfasst, die sich nach oben und in dem verbundenen Zustand in einen Hohlraum (31) unter der vorstehenden Feder hinein erstreckt, um die erste und die zweite Bodenplatte in einer vertikalen Richtung miteinander zu verriegeln,
wobei ein oberer Kontaktpunkt (A) zwischen der vorstehenden Feder (10) und einem oberen Teil (10) der zweiten Bodenplatte, der die vorstehende Feder überlappt, sowie ein unterer Kontaktpunkt (B) zwischen der vorstehenden Feder (10) und der flexiblen Einrast-Zunge (33) so eingerichtet sind, dass sie vertikale Verriegelung bewirken,
die erste und die zweite Bodenplatte durch eine vertikale Verschiebung aufeinander zu mechanisch verbunden werden können, die flexible Einrast-Zunge (33) und die vorstehende Feder (10) so eingerichtet sind, dass sie bei der Verschiebung so zusammenwirken, dass wenigstens ein Teil der flexiblen Einrast-Zunge (33) in einer ersten Phase durch die vorstehende Feder (10) elastisch auf die Halte-Nut (32) der zweiten Kante zu nach innen verschoben wird, und dass die flexible Einrast-Zunge (33) in einer zweiten Phase auf die erste Kante zu verschoben wird, um den verbundenen Zustand herzustellen, und
ein Zwischenraum (S2) zwischen dem oberen Teil der Leiste (6) und dem unteren Rand der zweiten Kante vorhanden ist, so dass keine vertikale Verriegelung zwischen dem oberen Teil der Leiste und dem unteren Rand der zweiten Kante stattfindet.

2. Satz von Bodenplatten nach Anspruch 1, wobei ein Außenteil der vorstehenden Feder (10) an seinem oberen und äußeren Teil eine geneigte oder abgerundete Führungsfläche (11) umfasst.

3. Satz von Bodenplatten nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die vorstehende Feder (10) oberhalb der Leiste (6) angeordnet ist.

4. Satz von Bodenplatten nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die vorstehende Feder (10) in der vertikalen Ebene angeordnet ist und sich von der vertikalen Ebene aus erstreckt.

5. Satz von Bodenplatten nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die vorstehende Feder (10) an ihrem unteren Teil eine Verriegelungs-Fläche (12) umfasst, die so eingerichtet ist, dass sie in dem verbundenen Zustand mit der flexiblen Einrast-Zunge (33) zusammenwirkt.

6. Satz von Bodenplatten nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Verriegelungs-Fläche (12) des unteren Teils der vorstehenden Feder geneigt ist.

7. Satz von Bodenplatten nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, wobei die Verriegelungs-Fläche (12) des unteren Teils der vorstehenden Feder (10) oberhalb der Leiste (6) angeordnet ist.

8. Satz von Bodenplatten nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die vorstehende Feder (10) und die Einrast-Zunge (33) so eingerichtet sind, dass der anfängliche Kontakt zwischen der vorstehenden Feder und der Einrast-Zunge während der vertikalen Verschiebung an einem oberen Teil der Einrast-Zunge stattfindet.

9. Satz von Bodenplatten nach einem der Ansprüche, wobei die flexible Feder (30) in die Halte-Nut (32) eingeklebt ist.

10. Satz von Bodenplatten nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Halte-Nut (32) eine obere Wand und eine untere Wand sowie eine innere Wand umfasst, die sich zwischen der oberen und der unteren Wand erstreckt.

11. Satz von Bodenplatten nach Anspruch 10, wobei ein Klebstoff an der oberen, der unteren und der inneren Wand vorhanden ist.

12. Satz von Bodenplatten nach Anspruch 10 oder 11, wobei die flexible Feder an der oberen, der unteren und der inneren Wand angeklebt ist.

Revendications

1. Jeu de panneaux de plancher qui sont mécaniquement connectables les uns aux autres sur un premier et un second bord d'un premier et un second panneau de plancher (1b, 1c) respectivement, dans lequel des bords supérieurs desdits premier et second bords dans un état connecté définissent un plan vertical (VP),
le premier bord est muni d'une languette en saillie (10) formée en une pièce avec le noyau du premier panneau de plancher, ladite languette en saillie (10) s'étend au-delà du plan vertical (VP),
le second bord est muni d'une languette flexible séparée (30),
le premier bord comprend une bande (6) avec un élément de verrouillage (8),
le second bord comprend une rainure de verrouillage (14), qui est ouverte vers un côté arrière du second panneau de plancher qui fait face à un sous-plancher, et
une surface de verrouillage de l'élément de verrouillage est configurée pour coopérer, dans l'état connecté, avec une surface de verrouillage de la rainure de verrouillage pour verrouiller le premier et le second panneau de plancher l'un à l'autre dans une direction horizontale, laquelle est à angles droits par rapport aux premier et second bords, caractérisé en ce que
la languette flexible comprend une partie interne (34), qui est connectée à une rainure de support (32) sur le second bord, et une patte d'enclenchement flexible externe (33) qui s'étend vers le haut et dans l'état connecté dans une cavité (31) sous la languette en saillie pour verrouiller le premier et le second panneau de plancher l'un à l'autre dans une direction verticale,
dans lequel un point de contact supérieur (A) entre la languette en saillie (10) et une partie supérieure du second panneau de plancher qui chevauche la languette en saillie et un point de contact inférieur (B) entre la languette en saillie (10) et la patte d'enclenchement flexible (33) sont configurés pour fournir un verrouillage vertical,
dans lequel le premier et le second panneau de plancher sont mécaniquement connectables par un déplacement vertical l'un vers l'autre, dans lequel la patte d'enclenchement flexible (33) et la languette en saillie (10) sont configurées pour coopérer pendant ledit déplacement de sorte qu'au moins une partie de la patte d'enclenchement flexible (33) est, dans une première étape, déplacée de manière résiliente vers l'intérieur vers la rainure de support (32) du second bord par la languette en saillie (10), et que la patte d'enclenchement flexible (33) est, dans une seconde étape, déplacée vers le premier bord, pour obtenir l'état connecté, et
dans lequel un espace (S2) est fourni entre la partie supérieure de la bande (6) et le bord inférieur du second bord, de sorte qu'il n'y a pas de verrouillage vertical entre la partie supérieure de la bande et le bord inférieur du second bord.

2. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une partie externe de la languette en saillie (10) comprend une surface de guidage inclinée ou arrondie (11) sur sa partie supérieure et externe.

3. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel la languette en saillie (10) est disposée au-dessus de la bande (6).

4. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la languette en saillie (10) est disposée sur le plan vertical et s'étend à partir du plan vertical.

5. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la languette en saillie (10) comprend sur sa partie inférieure une surface de verrouillage (12) qui dans l'état connecté est configurée pour coopérer avec la patte d'enclenchement flexible (33).

6. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la surface de verrouillage (12) de la partie inférieure de la languette en saillie est inclinée.

7. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon la revendication 5 ou 6, dans lequel la surface de verrouillage (12) de la partie inférieure de la languette en saillie (10) est disposée au-dessus de la bande (6).

8. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la languette en saillie (10) et la patte d'enclenchement (33) sont configurées de sorte que le contact initial, pendant ledit déplacement vertical, entre la languette en saillie et la patte d'enclenchement se trouve sur une partie supérieure de la patte d'enclenchement.

9. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon l'une quelconque des revendications, dans lequel la languette flexible (30) est collée dans la rainure de support (32).

10. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la rainure de support (32) comprend une paroi supérieure et une paroi inférieure et une paroi interne s'étendant entre la paroi supérieure et la paroi inférieure.

11. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon la revendication 10, dans lequel une colle est fournie sur la paroi supérieure, la paroi inférieure et la paroi interne.

12. Jeu de panneaux de plancher selon la revendication 10 ou 11, dans lequel la languette flexible est collée à la paroi supérieure, la paroi inférieure et la paroi interne.

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